ANCYL resolutions do not alter ANC policies

Johannesburg - Resolutions of the recent ANC Youth League congress which ended on Sunday did not alter the ANC policies being implemented at government level, the ruling party said on Monday.

"We want to state unequivocally that the ANCYL resolutions remain those of the league and do not alter ANC policies being implemented at government level," said African National Congress spokesperson, Jackson Mthembu, in a statement.

The ANC statement was issued after agricultural unions on Monday raised serious concerns about ANC Youth League president Julius Malema's talk of taking land without compensation.

Mthembu said pronouncements by the ANCYL on matters such as the nationalisation of mines and land redistribution formed part of ongoing discussions within the ruling party.

"These have already been shared at numerous political platforms, which include last year's National General Council held in Durban."

ANCYL autonomous

Mthembu said the ANC had established the ANCYL as an integral part of the ANC and that it existed as an autonomous structure.

Agri SA and the Transvaal Agricultural Union (TAU) reacted angrily to Malema's vow to "take land without payment", warning of the dire food safety and foreign investor confidence consequences.

The African Farmers Association of SA (Afasa), which represents emerging black farmers, said it wanted to work with the government and traditional white agricultural groups to create job security, employment and food security.

"We are trying to find a way forward. A common, united voice from white and black farmers. We want to go to government with one voice and talk one language," Afasa president Mike Mlengana told Sapa.

"That language should be about the commercial viability of agricultural production in South Africa, so that we are both domestically efficient and so that we can compete globally.

"We are for sustaining the economy, not destroying it," said Mlengana.

He did not want to comment specifically on Malema's call for an end to the willing buyer, willing seller policy, but would rather stick with the land policy discussions it was already having with the government and other agricultural bodies.

"We can't comment every time a politician says, 'I will do that', it can annoy and confuse the various stakeholders."

Agri SA deputy president Theo de Jager was less diplomatic.

"It is true that land reform has not worked... not for the beneficiaries, not for the farmers and not for government, but no-one has the guts to stand up and say it is because of the poor way it has been implemented by the land affairs department.

"It is not the willing seller part that has failed, it is the willing buyer part, because it was the job of totally incapable and inexperienced youngsters to close deals to buy land."

‘Scandalous’

De Jager said that some 30% of the country's land was currently state-owned.

"And that is the most unproductive and neglected land in our country. Why do they now want to go and mess with a sector in the economy that is creating jobs?

"What kind of democracy would expect 37 000 individual farmers to pick up the bill for land reform?"

TAU president Ben Marais described Malema's comments as "insanity".

"I think it is scandalous that a person would make such comments, that so many people support him and that the government allows it.

"Once a person starts making such insane comments, he sends out a message to the rest of the world that South Africa is going down the same path of Zimbabwe and that land ownership does not exist. It is this kind of talk that kills job creation on farms and mines," added Marais.

Aggrey Mahanjana, chairperson of the National Emergent Redmeat Producers’ Organisation, said he believed it would be "totally unfair" to take land without compensation.

"We won't support that. We still believe there are many ways of getting land to the black farmers without really injuring the current owners of land, whether black or white.

‘Totally unfair’

"We don't believe a farmer must hand over his land. That will be totally unfair," Mahanjana told Sapa.

He said he requested a meeting on Monday with the government to ask it about Malema's comments at the closing ceremony of the ANCYL conference on Sunday, where he was re-elected as leader.

Malema warned ruling party leaders they must either follow league policies - which included land grabs - or face removal from office. He has in the past accused whites of being criminals for stealing land.

Business Unity SA said it would issue a statement later, while the office of Herbert Mkhize, of the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac), said it would not comment.

Opposition leader Helen Zille wrote on social networking site Twitter that she had received a wave of messages.

Her reply: "I have rec'vd a tweet tsunami re Julius Malema. My response is: don't worry. He will be a catalyst for the political re-alignment SA needs."

Deputy Science and Technology Minister Derek Hanekom tweeted on Saturday: "Whatever YL says, expropriation of land without compensation is not ANC policy, and along with many others, I'll never support it. Never."

Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe on Sunday called for the debate around land reform to remain "within the Constitutional framework".

Comments

jock van wyk - 2011-06-20 20:22

What are you talking about?The ANCYL is Part of The Anc and The ANC is the majority in the Government.You cant deny the facts

TheUgly - 2011-06-21 12:52

Exactly, if the anc doesn't object to the statements made by the it's youth league then they support it. Wish that weakling zuma will just grow a pair and show malema who's boss.

Mike - 2011-06-20 20:31

If the ANCYL is an "autonomous structure", how can it be an "integral part" of the ANC? These guys don't even know the meaning of the words they use.

Protest - 2011-06-20 20:31

The ANC's lack of a firm response to the Malema Madness is a clear indication of their support.
Looks like Malema invented a new type of Coup d'état. It is via intimidation and threats.
The ANC elders are trembling in their brown stained underpants every-time Malema says something.

hugsxhisses - 2011-06-20 21:15

WARNING BELLS FOR SOUTH AFRICA to take this policy proposal seriously, to identify the likely consequences of the proposal, and to prepare for the eventuality of the State going ahead with seizing all or part of SA agricultural land. Be cautioned strongly against taking Government assurances to the contrary to heart particularly when viewed against the track record of that same Government in nationalising mineral and water rights and in proposing legislation to seize any fixed or movable property WITHOUT paying compensation.

cuz - 2011-06-20 22:17

WHAT THE ANC is not telling us is that the SA government has ALREADY ‘absorbed’ more than 65,000 of the 85,000 farms. Despite the fact that 90% of the 5,9-million hectares of ‘redistributed farms’ now lay totally idle and produce no food whatsoever the SA government is still going full-steam ahead with its land-nationalisation programme. And this is done despite the fact that the government does not even know the exact extent of state-owned land-sites because of its faulty record-keeping at the SA Deeds Registration Office. However what the disreputable records in the SA Deeds Registration Office did reveal, was that there’s considerably more land owned by the State than they want to admit to: from the original 85,000 privately-owned food-producing farms, no more than 14,000 farms and smallholdings now are registered as being ‘white-owned commercial agricultural sites’- all the other farms are in the hands of the State already

WC Republic - 2011-06-21 08:22

Just a little thought for all you out there. Use it don't use it. What if farmers or land owners in South Africa form a lobby group and do a little bargaining with the SA government. We give up land in SA, a sizable portion let's say 80%, but in return the SA government must allow and officially recognize the forming of a sovereign state, the independent state of the Western Cape. Perhaps the borders of the Western Cape could even be extended in the bargaining process. Let's say it's like the Great Trek in reverse. What do you think?

50something - 2011-06-21 09:01

@WC Republic. The whole of SA is interdependant. Cutting it into pieces will not work, tomorrow someone else wants another piece and we end up with a lot of Swazilands and Lesotho's which are not economically viable.
We rather need strong leadership that will put this madness to rest once and for all and get on with the job. Less politics and more action. The current state of affairs is not benefitting anyone, uncertainty is dangerous and eventually will harm the poor.
But until such time as the ANC, in its capacity of the ruling party, has the guts to bring all its "autonomous" structures that are an intergral part of the ANC, in line with its own policy and make it unequavically clear to all SA citizens and the world where it stands on this matter, the status quo will just continue. I am afraid though, that the current leadership is too mixed up in the succession race to upset any of its internal structures - to the detriment of SA as a whole

WC Republic - 2011-06-21 09:50

@50 something, if white people own the lion's share of the economy, it puts us in a very strong bargaining position, if we could transfer a large part of that economy into black hands. I don't say give it away for free, but give them an offer they can't refuse. We will see a major influx of money and business as the Western Cape infrastructure will have to expand to accommodate approximately 2 million immigrants (many skilled). Apart from that we could attract many of our expats to return to the new land with their AUS$ and GBP to participate. There are more than 1 million ex SA people abroad who could be attracted by a new political dispensation. Doctors, engineers, teachers, It experts etc.

simodi - 2011-06-21 09:52

cos he tells like it is,he strong leader of the moment,viva JUJU viva.

martin - 2011-06-20 20:31

Jackson Mthembu, Methinks you are a liar.

ANCockup - 2011-06-20 20:38

The useless toothless ANC will never take Malema to task. It is time for the white population (the people who developed the country) to sort this retarded 30 year old youth out.

Unfortunately, as you say you developed it, but obviously it is not your country. No white man originates from AZANIA.the clever one plundered the african resources and developed their own countries or homes....

emile.marais - 2011-06-21 02:04

This Azania you mention, where might it be found? I can't seem to find it on any map? Thought the PAC only recieved 0.27% of the vote in the 2009 general election. Azapo only recieved 0.22% of the vote. You can't take any party that recieved less then 0.5% of the national vote seriously. So your anger is understandable chinyoli. But you are entitled to your opinion as SOUTH AFRICA is a democracy after all.

WC Republic - 2011-06-21 08:20

Just a little thought for all you out there. Use it don't use it. What if farmers or land owners in South Africa form a lobby group and do a little bargaining with the SA government. We give up land in SA, a sizable portion let's say 80%, but in return the SA government must allow and officially recognize the forming of a sovereign state, the independent state of the Western Cape. Perhaps the borders of the Western Cape could even be extended in the bargaining process. Let's say it's like the Great Trek in reverse. What do you think?

u will join ur brothers u tried to escape in PTA,the boeremag,u will have to sit back n enjoying watching the indigenous ppl of Africa taking wats belongs to them,cos its time.

Zama.mncwabe - 2011-06-20 20:43

ANC is a joke#sigh#

mirapal - 2011-06-20 20:44

…was interesting to see the Zambian mines minister saying unequivocally that the nationalisation of his country's mines was a failure that should never be repeated … it cost the Zambian government $1m a day to manage nationalised mines … last year it's privatised mining sector generated more than $1m a day in taxes and royalties

Zinki - 2011-06-20 20:50

Now to try and convince our ruling party that nationalisation will not work here either!

Doublepost - 2011-06-20 21:00

A picture of banging your head against a brick wall comes to mind!

myancmyfutur - 2011-06-20 22:01

Nationalisation cannot be achieved overnight and is possible in a 20 to 30 year period and must not be mistaken for mass seizures like Zim. We can't fold our arms and simply handover everything to the likes of the Oppernheimers. I beleive if people say it can't work then they need to identify the reasons why it can't and plan around that to make it work but not sell to the Chinese or Guptas hopefully.

Fanie - 2011-06-21 06:21

You see the ANC wants to re-invent the wheel - coppied failed schooling system from AustraliA, and so on, NOW THIS

WC Republic - 2011-06-21 08:27

Indeed. Mining is one of SA's largest income producers. I can guarantee that the input and administration costs will far exceed the revenue, and the mines will in essence become worthless. Give some serious thought to the new republic idea.
Just a little thought for all you out there. Use it don't use it. What if farmers or land owners in South Africa form a lobby group and do a little bargaining with the SA government. We give up land in SA, a sizable portion let's say 80%, but in return the SA government must allow and officially recognize the forming of a sovereign state, the independent state of the Western Cape. Perhaps the borders of the Western Cape could even be extended in the bargaining process. Let's say it's like the Great Trek in reverse. What do you think?

Iron John - 2011-06-20 20:46

Why don't these so-called ANC leaders show some leadership, then? Except they won't. They'll play along until the next national election - they need the bloated little pikkinin - and they will then dispose of him in the so-called political realignment.

Joe - 2011-06-20 20:46

This war talk by Malema - will either lead to the destruction of the ANC or to a civil war!!! WAKE UP!!

Morne Loubser - 2011-06-22 10:25

Agreed.

Enough! - 2011-06-20 20:51

malema is not thinking of the poor but just his own pocket. nothing more and nothing less. Zim asked for another loan over the weekend from our government! who will Malema run to when he destroyed our economy? go figure>>>>> not the brightest crayon in the box.

Sign the petition here http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/stop-julius-malema/
VIVA the new freedom, down with terrorists, tyrants, criminals against humanity, VIVA UN, VIVA NATO!!

william.botha - 2011-06-20 21:10

De Jager, it is actually quite simple, it is called "loot syndrome". It is quite common in especially the failed states in Africa.

Douglas - 2011-06-20 21:11

Lets get the name right - Dilema Malema; that is what he is to the ANC

rimmoah - 2011-06-20 21:16

who runs this country,the anc or the youth leagu?.malema speaks as though he is president.he says those within the anc who dont support the leagues policy will be removed from office,is this why zuma and others are scared of malema because he can remove them from office?and therefore dont condemn his actions.they worry more about their seats in parliamnent than the wellbeing of the country

truerealist - 2011-06-20 21:17

This is believe will still split the ANC as the more mature ANC members have benefited from BEE and the ANCYL see that the opportunities to benefit have dwindled, so he now take the next step - take it without compensation. What the ANCYL does not realise is that the world has moved from Communism and Socialism is more the order of the day. This type of rehotoric can only lead to a breakdown in the triparty aliance.

william.botha - 2011-06-20 21:53

And the world have started responding to violators of human rights.

Breadman - 2011-06-20 21:19

The writing is on the wall. At the moment the wall is far, so we cannot see the writing. But the writing is on the wall alright. Make of this what you want.

struth - 2011-06-20 21:20

I would love to be a fly on the wall to see who is going to scramble to decide which side of the fence to sit on.
Maybe Helen is right, this will be the catalyst to bring down the whole vrotten government of the ANC.

simodi - 2011-06-21 10:04

that one wish to be a president of SA,N she will never have dat opportunity cos she racist,no way .

iareknersis - 2011-06-20 21:33

The ANC does support Juju's ideas thats why they never shut him up!

Marius Rossouw - 2011-06-20 21:38

Does any one in the current ANC government have any idea what this Malema idiot is doing the economy of my country? Does any one in the government has any idea what Zuma's non response is doing to the economy of my country? If the ANC wants civil war their wishes will most probably come true.

motsokwane - 2011-06-20 21:53

Point of correction, not "my country", my birth country instead.

myancmyfutur - 2011-06-20 21:53

Civil war with a 10 percent minority, be serious

william.botha - 2011-06-20 22:34

motsokwane, he is a citizen of this country. You cannot change that. He has a right to be here, he has full protection of the law, and should enjoy the protection of our constitution, like all citizens. Your hinting at the contrary is unlawful.

william.botha - 2011-06-20 22:39

Another one for you Motso, if you and your tjommies start thinking about evicting farmers, you have to supply alternative accommodation, it is in the constitution, it is law.

myancmyfutur - 2011-06-20 21:43

As the willing seller thing is not working, what options are we left with? The ghosts of the sunset clause are haunting us. Government need to go back to the drawing board and come up with new alternatives but at the moment no one is offering any except the ANCYL

william.botha - 2011-06-20 21:52

Then the ANC leadership should be held accountable for failed efforts. What is the use of having a constitution if it gets altered by whoever whenever they desire?

myancmyfutur - 2011-06-20 22:20

If 80 percent of the land is in the hands of a 10 percent minority pointing fingures to the ANC for a failed effort will not assist the situation. The position of the ANCYL is no Government policy, they need to present it to the ANC conference late next year and if the ANC buys int that it can then go to cabinet in 2013 but lets wait and see. However I think if it is approved it will need to be implemented over a 20 to 30 year period and its sensatinalization is only meant to cause fear and unnecessary panic.

Lembede - 2011-06-20 21:46

The senior leadership is wise enough to know about the dangers of the overall nationalisation of mines and banks and risks of ignoring property rights. The ANCYL should come up with a clear policy for debate upon which SA wealth redistribution can be executed. SA is still largely a country dependent on foreign aid on skills as well private funding for extensive mining programmes. Winnie should stop pushing her agenda via the inexperienced youth. Mine nationalisation wil fail in the long run and we'll end up selling the mines hence the country to China.

shatzi - 2011-06-20 21:56

Malema is saying what the rest of the government are to scared to say,i feel it will eventually become policy because the amount of theft and fraud cant be sustained by the econemy.When the funds dry up the white sector will be blamed and farms and big business will be targeted to hide the crimes of the powers that be

simon - 2011-06-20 22:00

It may well be that the ancyl, at this time, does not set anc policies, but once this ranting african Hitler, malema, gets enough support, the anc will have no option but to do his bidding. It is probably too late already; our hero president is too gutless to show any form of leadership, and all we can look forward to is a period of chaos, persecution and decline, and it will take SA two to three generations to recover. malema and his children will need to die out. Be warned.

bheki.dingiswayo - 2011-06-20 22:03

The problem is that Mr Malema is creating falls hope to those who has limited knowledge on Nationalisation or do not even think how it will work. It is a fact that the ANC does not enjoy 100% support in South Africa and I think any land robbery will be met with resistance that might lead to war.
As far as I am concern Malema and friends should be given a chance to run a mine, a bank, a farm on condition that if they fail to run it successfully he/they would keep their big speaking thing shut.

william.botha - 2011-06-20 22:09

Excellent idea.

myancmyfutur - 2011-06-20 22:11

Giving Malema and friends a farm or a mine will surely fail but not only them or anyone with no experience or knowledge of such but if you can train them over a 10 to 20 year period and phase the implementation of the takeover and [rpvide all the necessary support and monitoring mechanism that will surely yield different results. It must not be confused with Land mass seizure like the Zim style

Sippi - 2011-06-20 22:09

GUYs!!! can we just stand back and appreciate all that has been achieved??? How about viewing this from a different perspective? Malema is just trying to polarise black and white. He aims to pin us against one another once again. How utterly disrespectful is that to the work of the REAL freedom fighters, Mandela's legacy? how disgraceful to attempt to undo decades of struggle, decades of progress. Do you really want to play into his game? Do you really want to be part of the chaos? Is the mud-slinging (here on line or in real life) productive? Are the racial slurs productive? Is that how we want to be perceived by the global community? Wouldn't it be more productive to just step out of the game and get on with things? The country has transformed dramatically, maybe not as fast as we would wish and many South Africans are, no doubt, incredibly disappointed but acknowledge the progress, acknowledge the effort. Very, very few things in life happen just as we wish. Change that is rushed, forced, poorly planned and poorly co-ordinated is never, ever sustainable. The Government has created sustainable change. It appears that all the ranting and raving is now threatening to unravel this. Do you really want to go down that spiral? The conflict that is brewing will be to the detriment of every inhabitant, it will again take decades to repair. Please... step back, step out and move forward in a constructive, positive and sustainable direction for the benefit of each of us.

marisa.cronje - 2011-06-20 22:28

you are absolutely right.

myancmyfutur - 2011-06-20 22:38

Have you seen the policy document of the ANCYL on this matter or the proposed implementation plan thereof?

Doublepost - 2011-06-20 22:55

Stop farmer murders and the rampant crime, corruption and black racist laws in this country and minorities might just come to the table. At the moment, you are expecting them to sit down and take it on the chin! That cannot be allowed, no matter what you "think" should happen. Malema gets to have his say and so should all of us! That is freedom of speech! Like it or not.
Freedom brings with it responsibility, since 1994 Whites no longer have to bear responsibility for blacks or any other people, the ball is now in your court. You have all the opportunities that Whites have, use them or use them not! That is your choice. However, continuing to blame Whites or Whites who make comments on a forum is going to achieve absolutely nothing for you or those you love.
Take responsibility for your life, take responsibility for your race. That is true FREEDOM!

myancmyfutur - 2011-06-20 23:10

I agree with you Doblespot,....you omitted "take your land back"

GT - 2011-06-20 23:37

Let's wait and see who really has a pair of balls in the ANC. The big dogs are going to grip this youngster round the throat one of these days... you can just feel it coming.
They seem to be giving him rope to hang himself with. At some point he is going think he is bigger than the game and CHOP, off with his head.

Fanie - 2011-06-21 06:18

"Mthembu said the ANC had established the ANCYL as an integral part of the ANC and that it existed as an autonomous structure."
Bit of a parradoxical statement

How convenient for the anc to distance it's self from the delinquant school. It's your ancyl imbeciles in the kindergarten and our taxpayer's money wasted on the rubbish they spew out on a daily basis. As leaders albeit bad ones you have manage the pea brains.And it cannot always be after the fact. Set some rules or are you to scared Zoomer

Jim - 2011-06-21 07:57

The thing is they dont care if they starve , nor if the land lies unproductive, as long as it doesnt belong to the white man. Thats all that matters to them. They are so possesed by this. Then they will go to the west begging that they are starving because of Apartheid. These type of people are ruled by hatred and thats why they will never prosper.

mzanzirules - 2011-06-21 08:40

Julius can whistle "Dubula Ibhunu"through his butt and it won't matter, The Freedom charter adopted in 1945 says "This LAND belongs to everybody in it" There is nothing he can do about it other that going to court and truth is he keeps on losing those and will remain to do so. He's just revving everyone up because he can.

chan chan - 2011-06-21 08:58

the only reason the ANC is trying to spin it is due to the fact that alot of investors have already started pulling their money out the country,
Malema is our next president so it will happen, 1 way or another ...

sainsaudi - 2011-06-21 09:02

I think Malema is a catalyst and the end result will be his own demise. Reasonable people in South Africa will turn on him and he will be exposed for what he is. He is riding on the tail of the lion at this stage and he thinks that he is unconquerable, But he neglects to realise that he was put into his position by 5,500 sycophants who are themselves from the down and desperate section of South African society. Sooner or later these sycophants are going to demand payback for the support they gave him. We should constantly remind these people that Malema owes them and owes them big.It is heartening to see that senior ANC members have fallen back on our honourable and sacrosanct Constitution to uphold the values contained therein. It is time that they too started to implement the ideals of this document themselves and started to live up to them. They have created and nurtured a racist monster. Now they have to deal with it or else their organisation will be tainted by this horrible little man's racism and destructive tendencies. The debate should now be about the role of the ANCYL and in particular, where youth ends and where adulthood begins. Malema is not a youth! He is an adult!He must be viewed as an adult and judged by those standards.

Flashette - 2011-06-21 09:46

Who is Malema blackmailing that he feels he can "remove them from office" if they don't do what he wants? The ANC need to do something about this lunatic. He's dangerous.

simodi - 2011-06-21 09:50

whites stole this land from us,so we demand it back viva Malema u make me proud my leader that is a revolutionary statement.Run Helen Zille Run,roar young lions roar.

mzanzirules - 2011-06-21 10:12

you are smoking something my friend..... Goverment and tribal leaders own more land than Whites.... check for yourself.

White Male - 2011-06-21 12:46

The paralles with the lead up to the Nazis and Hitler taking power are dramatic. Malema is an uneducated madman, someone who like Hitler budgeons debate because he is unable to string coherent sentences together. I was at his first "debate" on nationalization in November 2009 - my impression is that he is a crass rabble rouser with no agenda but Malema. He has already ammassed an illegal fortune through dubious tenders to his company's. The ANC by not expelling him for his position which do not apparently reflect ANC policy are thus endorsing him. When South Africa becomes another Zimbabwe who will be to blame - the White colonialists? Of course this will be the chorus - I'll be smug across the waters laughing at another failed african state...

TheUgly - 2011-06-21 12:49

Maybe we should just go to Malema's house and throw him out on the street. I think he can dish it out but he can't take it.

Dean - 2011-06-22 10:10

weather or not they are a part of the anc is not the question we are all complaining about one idiot who has a following of uninformed people, if we keep trying to get through to him it is pointless, its banging against a very empty and thick skull, the DA Helen needs to step up her game and turn thier focus to the uninformed youth ... the DA needs to explain in simple terms why this clown will be the cause of SAs down fall, we think there are no jobs now ... not only will there be no jobs but no food no electricity no anything if the ANC passes the "nationalisation act" and land reform. Every single foreign investor will leave, our money wont be safe in the banks and our farms will die ... we will be going to Zim as illegals it will be that bad - Hellen step up your game your PR, campaign strat needs to be more aggressive, we all say rummbelings of a mad man but the clown is in the news everyday spouting crap, fight fire with fire you have won a little % more people over but i feel its time to step up or shut up

Morne Loubser - 2011-06-22 10:21

It's crap like this that's going to fuel a civil war at some stage. If this country is still a so called Democracy, I'd hate to see what communist countries look like.